JUNE 26, 2002

Bernie confirms Minardi payment

BERNIE ECCLESTONE has confirmed to reporters outside the FIA headquarters in Paris that the first in a series of payments has been made to Minardi.

In recent weeks there has been much discussion amongst the team bosses as to whether Minardi should be paid the money which should have gone to Prost Grand Prix for last season, with FIA boss Max Mosley and FOM chief Bernie Ecclestone agreeing that the team should receive the money, despite the opposition from other team principals, who seemed to be of the opinion that they should share the money between themselves.

A number of teams have yet to confirm that they will contest the decision at the International Chamber of Commerce in Lausanne, Switzerland, but it is expected that they will do so shortly.